Terms and Conditions

Welcome to Disc-Connected (the “Service”). By accessing or using our website, creating an account, or posting a listing, you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions.

1. Our Service

Disc-Connected is a community platform designed to connect owners of lost disc golf discs with finders. We act solely as a venue for users to post information and communicate. We do not possess, store, or physically handle the discs listed on this site.

2. User Accounts

• You must create an account to post listings or contact other users.
• You are responsible for safeguarding your password and account details.
• You agree to provide accurate and truthful information, including your email address and, if you add one, your phone number.

3. The “Ping” System and Contact

Our platform uses a “Ping” system to facilitate contact. By using this system, you acknowledge that:

• Finders: Sending a Ping notifies the disc owner that you may have found their property.
• Owners: By clicking “Accept” on a Ping, you explicitly consent to revealing your private contact details (your Email, and your Phone Number if you have added one) to the user who sent the Ping. A Phone Number you add while that Ping is still open is passed on to them too.
• We are not responsible for any communications or interactions that occur off our platform after details are exchanged.

4. Automated Matching, Notifications & Marketing

• We may use automated systems to scan “Lost” and “Found” listings to identify potential matches and notify the relevant parties via email.
• If you opt in (per device) to push notifications, you agree to receive web push alerts for key account events such as new pings, accepted pings, potential matches, and completed returns. These are optional and can be turned off at any time from your profile settings or your device's notification settings.
• If you opt-in to marketing communications during registration or via your profile settings, you agree to receive promotional emails, news, and updates from Disc-Connected. You may unsubscribe at any time.

5. Safety and Liability

Important: You agree that Disc-Connected is not responsible or liable for any loss, damage, or injury arising from meetings between users.

We do not screen users or verify background information. If you arrange to meet another user to exchange a disc, please:

• Meet in a public place during daylight hours.
• Bring a friend if possible.
• Use your best judgment and prioritize your safety.

6. User Content

When posting a disc (including text and images), you grant us a license to display that content on our Service. You agree that we may use your uploaded disc images for promotional purposes (e.g., sharing “Success Stories” on social media). You agree not to post content that is offensive, illegal, or unrelated to the recovery of lost property.

7. Listing Lifecycle

To keep search results accurate and useful for the community, listings on Disc-Connected follow an active-listing lifecycle:

• After your listing has been active for 90 days, we'll email you to check whether it's still needed. The email includes a one-click link to extend it for another 90 days, no login required.
• If we don't hear back within 7 days of that reminder, your listing will be automatically archived. Archived listings no longer appear in the public search results.
• Listings with any active or pending contact request are exempt and will not be auto-archived, even past 97 days. Any in-flight conversation can complete naturally.
• Archiving is reversible. Archived listings are retained for a further period (see our Privacy Policy) before any permanent deletion. If you have an archived listing you'd like to recover within that window, contact us at disc.connected.nz@gmail.com.
• You can re-post an archived listing at any time. If you've added the disc to My Bag, re-listing it takes one tap.

We may adjust the 90-day / 7-day timings in future to keep the platform working well for the community. Material changes will be communicated by email to affected users.

8. Termination

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account immediately, without prior notice or liability, for any reason, including without limitation if you breach these Terms.

9. Changes to Terms

We may modify these Terms at any time. By continuing to access or use our Service after those revisions become effective, you agree to be bound by the revised terms.

10. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of New Zealand. You and Disc-Connected submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of New Zealand.

Nothing in these Terms excludes, restricts or modifies any guarantee, right or remedy you have under the New Zealand Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 or Fair Trading Act 1986, or — if you are in Australia — under the Australian Consumer Law, to the extent those cannot lawfully be excluded. Where any term of this agreement would do so, it does not apply to you.

11. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Disc-Connected, its owners, and affiliates from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including legal fees) arising out of your use of the Service, your interactions with other users, or your violation of these Terms.

12. Dispute Resolution Between Users

Disc-Connected acts solely as a venue to connect users. We are not responsible for resolving any disputes between users regarding the ownership, condition, or return of any property. Any such disputes are solely between the users involved.

13. Points, Badges and Rewards

Points and badges. Using the Service earns points and badges automatically — for example returning a disc to its owner, posting a listing, or inviting someone who goes on to post. Points and badges have no cash value and cannot be bought, sold, transferred between accounts, or exchanged for anything other than a reward we choose to offer.

How points are worked out. Your points reflect your current activity, so they can go down as well as up — remove discs from My Bag, for example, and the points for them go too. The highest level you have reached is kept, and that is the level we use for rewards; it does not fall if your points do.

Changes. We may change how points are earned, the amount awarded for any action, the level thresholds, and the badges available, at any time. Material changes will be communicated by email to registered users.

Rewards. From time to time we may offer physical rewards — a mini disc or a towel, for example — to members reaching a level. Unless we say otherwise at the time:

• rewards are open to members with a verified account and a delivery address in the country or countries we name when that reward is offered — at present New Zealand only, while we work out postage to Australia;
• one reward per member per level;
• we may substitute a reward of equal or greater value;
• rewards cannot be exchanged for cash;
• we may change, pause or end the reward programme at any time, and will honour levels already reached for three months after announcing any change.

Fair play. Points, badges and rewards are for genuine use of the Service. Creating fake listings or accounts, inviting yourself, arranging false returns, or otherwise manipulating points may result in points being removed, badges revoked, rewards withheld, and your account suspended under section 8. We will act reasonably and tell you why.

Referrals. You may invite others using your personal invite link. You earn points only when someone joins through your link and posts a genuine listing. Please don't send unsolicited bulk messages, or suggest your invite comes from us. Referring accounts you control, or accounts created only to earn you points, breaches these Terms.

14. Contact Us

If you have any questions about these Terms, please contact us at: disc.connected.nz@gmail.com